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  1. Welcome
  2. The Important Stuff - Please Read

Forum hosting fees renewal

  • Splinter
  • November 4, 2019 at 5:51 PM

There are 61 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 9,652 times. The latest Post (July 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM) was by Splinter.

1st Official Post
  • Splinter
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    • November 4, 2019 at 5:51 PM
    • Official Post
    • #1

    The forum hosting, SSL (https) and domain (.org) fees are up for renewal with Godaddy at the end of November and these are normally paid 12 months in advance.

    The amount is approximately US$245 which will see us through until late November 2020.

    This is simply a reminder that any contributions to the forum costs will be most welcome by using the PayPalMe link at the right hand side of the main page.

    Many thanks!

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Online
    Rice
    Posts
    15,442
    • November 4, 2019 at 7:07 PM
    • #2

    Count me in. Thanks for having fronted the funds from the start, and for doing all the tech work to keep things running smoothly.

  • Splinter
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    • November 5, 2019 at 6:51 AM
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    • #3

    Many thanks to Rice and serafina for their very helpful support.

    Every contribution helps.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Splinter
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    • October 22, 2020 at 10:05 AM
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    • #4

    The forum domain name (argentinaexpats.org) has just been renewed for another 12 months and the hosting plan with GoDaddy has been renewed until June 2021.

    The cost is US$100, so if members feel like contributing, please use the PayPalMe link on the front page.

    Many thanks for your continued support.

    <3

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Splinter
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    • October 22, 2020 at 3:08 PM
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    • #5

    The annual cost is still $250, fyi.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Splinter
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    • January 15, 2021 at 8:10 AM
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    • #6

    Website hosting with GoDaddy is paid up until September 4th 2021 and the domain argentinaexpats.org is paid up until 4th December 2021.

    SSL is now being renewed through a free service every three months.

    Every contribution to the running costs of this site are most welcome, thanks.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Splinter
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    • April 2, 2021 at 8:35 AM
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    • #7

    Hosting with GoDaddy renewed until 4th December 2021.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • UK Man
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    11,238
    • June 7, 2021 at 10:16 PM
    • #8

    Will the Ads make much difference to the economics of running the forum?

  • Richard Pedersen
    Posts
    76
    • June 8, 2021 at 10:13 AM
    • #9

    It has been my experience that most people don't whitelist sites they like. According to metrics, 80% of users are blocking sites' ads. That is a huge amount of lost potential revenue. I work for Dave's Computer Tips and Dave has been paying out of pocket to keep the site going for nearly 20 years now.

    The solution is basically this: if you like a site, then whitelist that site in your Adblocker to help keep those sites available for free to the user.

    Nobody likes ads, but not all ads are intrusive. Many are simple banner ads or side panel ads that don't flash and annoy. After a while, you won't even see them -- it's called being banner blind. And you don't have to click on them for the site to gain a bit of revenue. They only have to be visible on your screen.

    The only recourse in many cases is for the SysAdmins to put up a paywall to cover the costs and this only serves to punish the 20% who are whitelisting sites.

    Do it now. While you're thinking about it.

  • UK Man
    Posts
    11,238
    • June 8, 2021 at 12:40 PM
    • #10
    Quote from Richard Pedersen

    It has been my experience that most people don't whitelist sites they like. According to metrics, 80% of users are blocking sites' ads. That is a huge amount of lost potential revenue. I work for Dave's Computer Tips and Dave has been paying out of pocket to keep the site going for nearly 20 years now.

    The solution is basically this: if you like a site, then whitelist that site in your Adblocker to help keep those sites available for free to the user.

    Nobody likes ads, but not all ads are intrusive. Many are simple banner ads or side panel ads that don't flash and annoy. After a while, you won't even see them -- it's called being banner blind. And you don't have to click on them for the site to gain a bit of revenue. They only have to be visible on your screen.

    The only recourse in many cases is for the SysAdmins to put up a paywall to cover the costs and this only serves to punish the 20% who are whitelisting sites.

    Do it now. While you're thinking about it.

    Interesting opinion RP. I frequent a US based pipe smoking forum which has Ads. Despite not being able to avail myself of the products advertised I don't mind them. Difference is with that site the Ads are all pipe smoking related and you don't have to click out of them because they block your view.

    I suppose it all boils down to the quality of the forum and how important the content is to the individual viewer to the actions one takes.

  • Splinter
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    • June 8, 2021 at 12:56 PM
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    • #11
    Quote from UK Man

    Will the Ads make much difference to the economics of running the forum?

    It's not much revenue yet, but as I've said before, we need to look at it over the course of several months.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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    Rice
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    • June 8, 2021 at 5:32 PM
    • #12

    I use my cell phone 99% of the time, and the ads ARE problematic in the mobile format, since there is usually an unremovable ad parked right on top of the most recent post. When an ad prevents my reading a post, naturally I lose interest in the thread, and in any case can’t respond.

    After a few more months, if the ads are still saving us only $3-4 per month, I’d be glad to pay the $40-50/year that the ads save us.

    A paywall would be counterproductive for this particular forum, since we’re trying to build membership rather than restrict it.

  • Splinter
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    • June 8, 2021 at 5:53 PM
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    • #13
    Quote from Rice

    I use my cell phone 99% of the time, and the ads ARE problematic in the mobile format, since there is usually an unremovable ad parked right on top of the most recent post. When an ad prevents my reading a post, naturally I lose interest in the thread, and in any case can’t respond.

    After a few more months, if the ads are still saving us only $3-4 per month, I’d be glad to pay the $40-50/year that the ads save us.

    A paywall would be counterproductive for this particular forum, since we’re trying to build membership rather than restrict it.

    You can use Chrome or Firefox with an adblocker on iOS/Apple iPhones you know. We won't be offended.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • daniel
    Posts
    792
    • June 8, 2021 at 6:02 PM
    • #14
    Quote from Splinter

    You can use Chrome or Firefox with an adblocker on iOS/Apple iPhones you know. We won't be offended.

    Or install the Brave browser and it will block all ads. I will still support the forum, regardless of ads. The only way I see ads, is

    when I use the Edge browser. Thanks for the forum upkeep, it can probably be a headache. Do you have a dedicated machine

    for the forum? If so, I guess it runs 24/7!!!

  • Online
    Rice
    Posts
    15,442
    • June 8, 2021 at 6:04 PM
    • #15

    Splinter , case in point: the ad allows me to read my own quote at the start of your post, but not a word of your post!

    I don’t mean to dwell on this, as I realize I’m probably the only member who accessed the forum via mobile phone. But anyway, here’s a screenshot.

  • Splinter
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    • June 8, 2021 at 6:06 PM
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    • #16
    Quote from Rice

    Splinter , case in point: the ad allows me to read my own quote at the start of your post, but not a word of your post!

    I don’t mean to dwell on this, as I realize I’m probably the only member who accessed the forum via mobile phone. But anyway, here’s a screenshot.

    That can easily be solved by changing browser, unless Safari allows ad blockers.

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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    Rice
    Posts
    15,442
    • June 8, 2021 at 6:15 PM
    • #17

    Sorry, that one is covered too.


    I’m guessing your advice is to switch browsers, but I prefer to stick to only Safari with the iPhone. So I’ll continue to miss a bunch of posts, but I’ll live!

  • Splinter August 12, 2021 at 3:43 PM

    Moved the thread from forum Announcements to forum The Important Stuff - Please Read.
  • Splinter
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    • December 11, 2022 at 5:25 PM
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    • #18

    Please note the change of PayPal.me details on the front page PayPal box should you wish to make a payment/contribution.

    Thanks!

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

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  • Splinter
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    • March 25, 2023 at 11:05 AM
    • #19

    I've just updated the Donation/Give me a beer box and it should now work as intended.

    Any problems please let me know.

    Donate

    A Brit In Buenos Aires

  • Gary Kipher
    Posts
    216
    • March 25, 2023 at 12:17 PM
    • #20

    Splinter. Thanks, the link page donation opens. Will be chipping in. Read some back threads, fyi this forum, though small, is great. Hope you don't have to resort to advertising. Or a paywall. One reason I no longer read the Independent UK. Can't read the article without ads, ads, ads. Yeah, I know, ad blockers, different browser. My little villages newspaper on the coast of Oregon is behind a paywall! Was a nice little village of the working class until corporate money built a world class golf course next to it. Now a starter home cost US$500,000.00. That's not a miss print. One half of a million US dollars. Sorry for the rant. But WTF :wt-hell:

Thank you for the support!

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Donate now via Paypal*

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